Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the recently published progress report on the programme for a partnership Government. [22966/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress report of the partnership for Government. [23043/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the publication of the progress report on the programme for a partnership Government. [23049/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the first annual report on the implementation of the programme for a partnership Government. [23332/17]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together.

A Programme for a Partnership Government, published last May, set out an ambitious programme of work to protect our growing economy and ensure that the results of the recovery are felt by all citizens. The programme for Government annual report was published last week on 10 May and sets out the progress made on more than 300 commitments across all of Government over the past 12 months. It reflects the hard work across all Government Departments to deliver a wide range of issues over the lifetime of this Government. Prior to this, two interim progress reports on the programme were also published during the Government's first year in office.

The annual report provides a comprehensive update on the progress of the commitments in its first year, which highlights very specific plans which have been put in place to address, in the short and longer term, key areas of housing, homelessness, education, rural and regional development, job creation, broadband, agriculture and climate change. The report also highlights the ambition and steps to improve services for families, children, people with disabilities and mental health problems, older people, including key reforms necessary in the health and justice sectors.

Significant work has also been undertaken in advance of and following the UK's referendum on EU membership to ensure an effective whole of government approach to the Brexit negotiations that takes full account of the Government's negotiating priorities.

The Government will continue to implement its programme, striking a balance between addressing urgent priorities and engaging in long-term planning so that lasting solutions are implemented to secure a strong economy and a fair society.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 7 in the name of Deputy Gerry Adams is being taken by Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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As the Taoiseach will know, there was much in the programme for Government, to which Sinn Féin objected from the outset, but, even by this Government's standards and its own brand of politics, its first year has been a failure. Policing and justice are in crisis. The health service is in crisis. Homelessness and housing are an ongoing crisis. Níl an réiteach ar an ghéarchéim i dtaobh an Ospidéal Náisiúnta Máithreachais go fóill.

The Government's strategy for dealing with the challenges of Brexit, which is the greatest threat to the economies of this island in generations, is deeply flawed. I also have my own view on the confidence and supply agreement with the Government's loyal opposition. The reality is that this so-called new politics is not new. It is the same old, same old. Consequently, there is a deep paralysis in the body politic. Whether that is due to the Taoiseach deciding when or where he is going, and perhaps we will learn more of that later on, or the desire of Fianna Fáil to keep the minority Government weak and not to allow it any real successes, the result is that this Government is staggering from one crisis to another.

I dealt earlier with the Government's failure to provide social supports for children at risk and with respect to the health service. I want to touch briefly on the issues of housing and homelessness. There are now 15 vacant properties for every homeless person in Cork. A total of 295 people accessed a shelter in Cork in one week in March. The incidence of homelessness is up 20% since the Minister took office. His 1 July deadline that no homeless families will be living in hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation is looming and we have yet to see any detail of how he intends to achieve that. Social housing delivery is being exaggerated and is moving at a snail's pace.

Consequently, the Government's first year has been a failure. If the Taoiseach is honest with himself, he will accept that the first year of his Government has not been marked by success but by crisis, particularly in the areas of health and housing.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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While Simon and Leo battle it out to succeed the Taoiseach-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There might be another one.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----and there might be a dark horse or two - God knows - the programme for Government commitments in the area that is most urgent for the citizens of this country are failing disastrously. The Taoiseach might say to Simon and Leo that they are to keep the campaign short and deal with this housing crisis, which the Taoiseach has helped create.

I want to ask a number of specific questions about the Taoiseach's programme for Government commitments. First, the very first line of the programme's chapter on housing refers to "affordable". There is no affordable scheme. There is no affordable rental scheme mentioned in the programme and no affordable housing scheme mentioned in Rebuilding Ireland. Even though these form centre pieces of Rebuilding Ireland, there is not a sign of these schemes.

Second, the programme refers in great detail to the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and its central role in delivering. Deputy Simon Coveney confirmed something yesterday, which every TD in this Dáil knows, that the figures are shocking and revealing. In Dublin, average rents for a two-bedroom house are now €2,600 a month whereas the HAP rent support is €1,250 a month for the same sized accommodation. In other words, average rents are more than twice what the Government is willing to give people in HAP support to find accommodation. Needless to say, they cannot find it and they end up homeless. What will the Taoiseach do to bridge that gap? Currently, it is simply a recipe for spiralling homelessness, which is shocking and obscene.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I do not pretend to be objective in doing an analysis of the Government's first year but many people, even the most objective of them, would not say it has been a productive year either for this Dáil or the Government because of the nature of this Dáil. Bluntly, the Taoiseach knows and I am sure he would admit it privately that senior officials in Departments are not bringing matters to Ministers or the Cabinet, unless they are absolutely essential. This is not only because of a fear they will not get through the Oireachtas without amendments they do not want but because they are not even sure they will get them through the Cabinet. We can survive on that for a while but it cannot go on for too long. There are too many extraordinarily big issues to be addressed, including some of the social issues referenced by other Deputies, such as housing, health, etc. We must also consider the fundamental external threats to our well-being, such as Brexit and the economic policies of the US President.

I will ask a question of one aspect of the Government's agenda and trumpeted in its progress report, which is the reform agenda. Despite what is in the agreement with Fianna Fáil, not a single piece of Opposition legislation has been enacted from 140 pieces of legislation. There is a pretence that all Deputies in the House can bring forward legislation and advance it. We had the difficulty with the money messages which I think has been resolved, certainly with regard to a number of Bills of which I am aware. Is there a commitment to genuinely progress proposals which are fit for purpose, are crafted well and might need minor amendment? I heard what the Taoiseach said to Deputy O'Dea earlier. Will such Bills be allowed to proceed to enactment?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will put some perspective on what has just been said. For over six months there has been a steady series of claims that the Government's objectively appalling legislative record is somehow the fault of this Dáil. That is what is presented by the Government side and Government and Fine Gael sources have been actively promoting the idea that legislation is being held back because of uncertainty about how it would be dealt with once it got to the Dáil.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is a shocking idea in itself that the Dáil might amend it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Public servants did not want to progress legislation because, lo and behold, it might be changed. One obvious response in finding out whether a proposal can make it through the Dáil is to undertake some consultation with people. That has not happened. One cannot blame the Dáil for the fact that legislation has not come forward. We asked yesterday about the Technological Universities Bill, which has not come near the Dáil. There have been external discussions with trade unions but it has not come near the Dáil. There is not much in it and there may be some disagreement - the word "shall" might become "may" in one section - but there is no reason for that to hang around for 12 months. The schools admissions Bill has been hanging around and a range of Bills could be dealt with if Ministers became more proactive. The bulk of the legislative programme is non-contentious but some of the commentariat have only been too willing to fall for the camouflage. The Dáil is not stopping Ministers from coming forward with legislation. They can do it if they wish and be more proactive. I do not know if the Taoiseach has sought from Ministers a list of legislation that could be published or which might be published if they knew what the reaction would be. What Bills are they holding back?

There is another key matter. Today we have learned the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has apparently had no meetings with any of his EU colleagues about Brexit.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is right.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Trade is the number one issue in Brexit, as the Taoiseach knows. It all boils down to the trade agreement between the UK and the European Union with regard to its economic and social impact on Ireland. We can strip everything else back but the trade agreement is it. Shipping and transport is central to trade. People are now talking about new routes but 80% of our trade goes through the UK before ending up outside of it.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There are also aircraft.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is not engaged in this. Will the Taoiseach find out what he is doing?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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He is opening Stepaside Garda station.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Apparently, no boards are being appointed because it is beyond his capacity to make a judgment on whether he can appoint somebody.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach will only have two minutes to respond.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know if the Taoiseach is aware he has not been engaging on the Brexit matters. If he is aware, what has the Taoiseach done about this? Will he please check this as shipping and transport of all persuasions are critical.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach will only have two minutes. Does the Deputy want answers?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise but it is a fair point that deserves some clarification.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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One would need to be like Speedy Gonzales. The Government has created 1,300 new jobs every week since June 2016.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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No, it did not. The economy did that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Unemployment is down 9 percentage points to 6.2% and the number of unemployed fell by 47,300 in the past year. The 2016 action plan has delivered 93% of 555 measures. Deputy Boyd Barrett should read the programme report in respect of housing and he will see what is going on. Despite all the talk and cynicism, there is more work going on than ever before in the housing sector between local authorities, private enterprise and initiatives from the Department.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach should respond to my specific question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland client companies recorded 18,600 new jobs in 2016, which is an increase of 11,900. Enterprise Ireland companies created 19,200 jobs, an increase of 9,000. Local enterprise office client companies created 7,800 jobs. The value of goods exported totalled almost €117 billion, the highest annual total on record. There are 12,500 small and medium enterprises that have benefitted from €544 million in Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland loans. The credit guarantee scheme has sanctioned 437 loans of €70 million to date, supporting 2,500 jobs. Microfinance Ireland approved 1,249 applications, totalling €8.2 million. The list goes on for people if they want to read it.

The Minister, Deputy Ross, has engaged extensively at official level with other Departments and agencies and he has been fully briefed in these engagements. He has met directly with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and engaged in all-island sectoral dialogues in both transport and tourism held in Dundalk this year.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Minister of State is in the Irish Government.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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He has had bilateral discussions with his own Minister of State.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He attended the European Union Transport Council meeting last June, which arose immediately prior to the Brexit vote.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On point of order-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He met EU counterparts.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Could we establish that the "O'Donovan" he met is the Minister of State at his own Department? Did they bump into each other in the corridor?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is no point of order.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He was unable to attend the December meeting, which was the only EU Transport Council meeting since Brexit.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach cannot be serious.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Four members-----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That was due to a road safety event scheduled for the same day. Officials attended in his place and reported back on all proceedings. Pending the formal triggering by the UK of Article 50-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Has he stepped aside from his European Union duties?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----there was regular and ongoing engagement and contact at all levels involving the Department. This included meetings, conferences and seminars in Brussels and elsewhere.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Meetings with his own Minister of State.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister met his Northern Irish counterpart at the North-South Ministerial Council transport sectoral meeting on 12 December 2016 in Armagh, when Brexit was on the agenda. There is regular contact with Northern Ireland counterparts at official level. Senior management in the Department, including the Secretary General, had a four-hour meeting with their UK counterparts on 19 January and the Minister, Deputy Ross, will of course attend the June meeting.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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If only he was so loyal to the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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People judge Governments by the extent of legislation that is put through. The previous Government had a big majority and there were guillotines about which Deputy Martin complained every week. There was no real pre-legislative scrutiny. That has all be changed and half the agenda is determined by the Business Committee. There are 140 Private Members' Bills backed up and there are no guillotines. There is full and comprehensive pre-legislative scrutiny. Last year there was the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2016, the Health (Amendment) Act 2016, the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016, the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) 2016, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Not one Opposition Bill.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----the Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Act 2016, the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016, the Energy Act 2016, the Finance (Certain European and Intergovernmental Obligations) Act 2016, the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Act 2016, the Social Welfare Act 2016, the Appropriation Act 2016, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, the Finance Act 2016, the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2016, the Statute Law Revision Act 2016, the Road Traffic Act 2016, the Courts Act 2016 and the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2016. There has also been the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and so on.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We are obliged to move on.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government has published quite an extensive list of Bills since coming to office on 6 May last year. It is wrong to judge any Government on the extent of legislation and it is much better to judge it on the quality.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is even worse when judged like that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This Dáil is very different from the previous one, as Deputy Martin is well aware, and because of the different sectors that are represented, the nature of the business has changed. A great deal of work has gone on, is going on and will go on.